FYUL: Anti-Inflammatory

FYUL is a program focused on making it easy for you to find foods that are embedded with health benefits also known as functional foods that are important to your personal lifestyle!

Anti-Inflammatory: Foods made with antioxidant ingredients that may help prevent and relieve inflammation

Choose foods to fight inflammation!

When foreign substances (allergens, chemicals, viruses, bacteria, etc.) enter the body, it will often trigger the body to reject and fight against it. In this instance, the body is reacting and this creates inflammation within the body. When thinking about this time of year we want to make sure that we are reducing our risk for illnesses, especially during finals and upcoming holidays!

Many people will turn to medication and/or supplements to combat inflammation and/or reduce their risk of illness this time of year. However, these may not be necessary as the foods we eat may help reduce inflammation. Researchers are still trying to determine the actual specifics, but what we do know is that eating a well-balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, plant proteins and/or lean animal protein will help keep your immune system healthy.

The following foods are considered anti-inflammatory

• Fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, apples, and oranges
• Vegetables such as tomatoes, spinach, and kale
• Omega-3 fatty acids that are found in flaxseeds, walnuts, salmon, tuna
• Healthy fats such as olive oil

It is important to note that certain foods may increase inflammation, such as highly processed foods and fried foods. Therefore, you would want to limit these foods.

So when you are studying for finals reach for a snack of an apple, orange, strawberries or blueberries to try to stave off viruses this season! And of course, work on getting adequate rest and sleep as that is important during finals and it has also been shown to help reduce inflammation!

Resources:

1. What is an Anti-Inflammatory Diet. Accessed December 5, 2019 https://www.eatright.org/health/wellness/preventing-illness/what-is-an-anti-inflammatory-diet
2. Foods that fight inflammation.  Accessed December 5, 2019 https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammation